Travellers' cheques are one of the safest ways of carrying your money. Worldwide, they're available from almost any major bank, and from special American Express or Thomas Cook offices. The usual fee for buying travellers' cheque is one or two percent, though this fee may be waived if you purchase the cheques through a bank where you have an account. It pays to get a selection of denominations. Make sure to keep the purchase agreement and a record of the cheque serial numbers safe and separate from the cheques themselves. In the event that cheques are lost or stolen, the issuing company will expect you to report the loss immediately; most companies claim to replace lost or stolen cheques within 24 hours.The most widely recognized brands of travellers' cheques are Visa, Thomas Cook and American Express, which most banks will change. American Express travellers' cheques can also be cashed at post offices. Euro travellers' cheques can be worthwhile: they may often be used as cash, and you should get the face value of the cheques when you change them, so commission is only paid on purchase. Banks being banks, however, this is not always the case.
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